Air conditioner unit having a sterilization light assembly

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may define an indoor portion and outdoor portion. The housing may further define an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the outdoor portion and include an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and include an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may be disposed within the indoor portion below the indoor fan and directed forward to transmit an ultraviolet light emission within the indoor portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to air conditioner unitsand more particularly to an air conditioner unit having a sterilizationlight assembly for sterilizing air within the air conditioner unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air conditioner or conditioning units are conventionally used to adjustthe temperature indoors (i.e., within structures such as dwellings andoffice buildings). For example, a packaged terminal air conditioners(PTAC) may be used to adjust the temperature in, for example, a singleroom or group of rooms of a structure. A PTAC unit includes an indoorportion and an outdoor portion. The indoor portion generallycommunicates (e.g., exchanges air) with the room/group of rooms within abuilding, and the outdoor portion generally communicates (e.g.,exchanges air) with the area outside the building. Accordingly, the airconditioner unit generally extends through, for example, a wall of thestructure. Generally, a fan may be operable to rotate to motivate airthrough the indoor portion. Another fan may be operable to rotate tomotivate air through the outdoor portion. A sealed cooling systemincluding a compressor is generally housed within the air conditionerunit to treat (e.g., cool or heat) air as it is circulated through, forexample, the indoor portion of the air conditioner unit.

One issue that may arise during the use of a conventional airconditioner unit (e.g., PTAC) is the presence of potentially damagingmicrobes, bacteria, or viruses within the surrounding air. Inparticular, the such microbes, bacteria, or viruses may be circulated orpropelled through a room as an air conditioner unit draws in and expelsair. This may, in turn, make it difficult to prevent transmission ofsuch microbes, bacteria, or viruses to individuals located within thesame room. Although some attempts have been made to use thesterilization properties of ultraviolet (UV) light to help reduce oreliminate microbes, bacteria, or viruses; these attempts may have anumber of drawbacks. For instance, it can be difficult to direct lightto a significant portion of air flowing through an air conditioner unitwithout requiring a light assembly that is especially bulky or energyintensive. Additionally or alternatively, it may be difficult to mount alight assembly in such a way that it can reliably sterilize air whilepreventing damage that might occur to the light assembly (e.g., frommoisture or excessive heat generated within an air conditioner unit).

As a result, an air conditioner unit addressing one or more of the aboveissues would be useful. In particular, it may be advantageous to providean air conditioner unit having features for effectively or reliablysterilizing air flowing therethrough (e.g., without significantincreases to system size, cost to manufacture or operate, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be obvious from the description, or may belearned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditionerunit is provided. The air conditioner unit may include a housing, anoutdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, acompressor, and a sterilization light assembly. The housing may definean indoor portion and an outdoor portion. The housing may further definean exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust airtherefrom. The outdoor heat exchanger assembly may be disposed in theoutdoor portion and include an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heatexchanger assembly may be disposed in the indoor portion and include anindoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan. The compressor may be in fluidcommunication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heatexchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchangerand the indoor heat exchanger. The sterilization light assembly may bedisposed within the indoor portion below the indoor fan and directedforward to transmit an ultraviolet light emission within the indoorportion.

In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an airconditioner unit is provided. The air conditioner unit may include ahousing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchangerassembly, a compressor, a heat shield, and a sterilization lightassembly. The heat shield may be disposed within the indoor portion. Thesterilization light assembly may be mounted on the heat shield withinthe indoor portion to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendedfigures.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an air conditioner unit, with partof an indoor portion exploded from a remainder of the air conditionerunit for illustrative purposes, according to exemplary embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of components of an indoor portion ofthe exemplary air conditioner unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 provides a schematic view of a refrigeration loop in accordancewith exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 provides a side sectional view of components of an indoor portionof the exemplary air conditioner unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 provides a magnified side sectional view of components of theindoor portion of the exemplary air conditioner unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 provides a bottom perspective view of a cutoff panel andsterilization light assembly, in isolation, of the exemplary airconditioner unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 provides an exploded perspective view of an exemplarysterilization light assembly of an air conditioner unit according toexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope of theinvention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part ofone embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive(i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). The terms“first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably todistinguish one component from another and are not intended to signifylocation or importance of the individual components. The terms“upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative flow direction withrespect to fluid flow (e.g., airflow or refrigerant flow) in a fluidpathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the flow direction from whichthe fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the flow direction to whichthe fluid flows.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an air conditioner unit 10 is provided. The airconditioner unit 10 is a one-unit type air conditioner, alsoconventionally referred to as a packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC)unit. The unit 10 includes an indoor portion 12 and an outdoor portion14, and generally defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L,and a transverse direction T. Each direction V, L, T is perpendicular toeach other, such that an orthogonal coordinate system is generallydefined.

A housing 20 of the unit 10 may contain various other components of theunit 10. Housing 20 may include, for example, a rear grill 22 and a roomfront 24 which may be spaced apart along the transverse direction T by awall sleeve 26. The rear grill 22 may be part of the outdoor portion 14,and the room front 24 may be part of the indoor portion 12. Componentsof the outdoor portion 14, such as an outdoor heat exchanger 30, outdoorfan 32, and compressor 34 may be housed within the wall sleeve 26. Acasing 36 may additionally enclose the outdoor fan 32, as shown.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, indoor portion 12 may include, forexample, an indoor heat exchanger 40, an indoor or blower fan 42, and aheating unit 44. These components may, for example, be housed behind theroom front 24 of housing 20. Additionally, a bulkhead 46 of housing 20may generally support or house various other components or portionsthereof of the indoor portion 12, such as the blower fan 42 and theheating unit 44. Bulkhead 46 may generally separate and define theindoor portion 12 and outdoor portion 14.

Outdoor and indoor heat exchangers 30, 40 may be components of arefrigeration loop 48, which is shown schematically in FIG. 3.Refrigeration loop 48 may, for example, further include compressor 34and an expansion device 50. As illustrated, compressor 34 and expansiondevice 50 may be in fluid communication with outdoor heat exchanger 30and indoor heat exchanger 40 to flow refrigerant therethrough as isgenerally understood. More particularly, refrigeration loop 48 mayinclude various lines for flowing refrigerant between the variouscomponents of refrigeration loop 48, thus providing the fluidcommunication there between. Refrigerant may thus flow through suchlines from indoor heat exchanger 40 to compressor 34, from compressor 34to outdoor heat exchanger 30, from outdoor heat exchanger 30 toexpansion device 50, and from expansion device 50 to indoor heatexchanger 40. The refrigerant may generally undergo phase changesassociated with a refrigeration cycle as it flows to and through thesevarious components, as is generally understood. One suitable refrigerantfor use in refrigeration loop 48 is 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, alsoknown as R-134A, although it should be understood that the presentdisclosure is not limited to such example and rather that any suitablerefrigerant may be used.

As is understood, refrigeration loop 48 may be alternately operated as arefrigeration assembly (and thus perform a refrigeration cycle) or aheat pump (and thus perform a heat pump cycle). When refrigeration loop48 is operating in a cooling mode and thus performs a refrigerationcycle, the indoor heat exchanger 40 acts as an evaporator and theoutdoor heat exchanger 30 acts as a condenser. Alternatively, when theassembly is operating in a heating mode and thus performs a heat pumpcycle, the indoor heat exchanger 40 acts as a condenser and the outdoorheat exchanger 30 acts as an evaporator. The outdoor and indoor heatexchangers 30, 40 may each include coils through which a refrigerant mayflow for heat exchange purposes, as is generally understood.

In exemplary embodiments, expansion device 50 is disposed in the outdoorportion 14 between the indoor heat exchanger 40 and the outdoor heatexchanger 30. Optionally, expansion device 50 may be an electronicexpansion valve that enables controlled expansion of refrigerant, as isgenerally understood. More specifically, electronic expansion device 50may be configured to precisely control the expansion of the refrigerantto maintain, for example, a desired temperature differential of therefrigerant across the indoor heat exchanger 40. In other words,electronic expansion device 50 throttles the flow of refrigerant basedon the reaction of the temperature differential across indoor heatexchanger 40 or the amount of superheat temperature differential,thereby ensuring that the refrigerant is in the gaseous state enteringcompressor 34. In alternative embodiments, expansion device 50 may be acapillary tube or another suitable expansion device configured for usein a thermodynamic cycle.

Turning generally to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, bulkhead 46 may include variousperipheral surfaces that define an interior 52 thereof. For example,bulkhead 46 may include a first sidewall 54 and a second sidewall 56which are spaced apart from each other along the lateral direction L. Arear wall 58 may extend laterally between the first sidewall 54 andsecond sidewall 56. The rear wall 58 may, for example, include an upperportion and a lower portion. The lower portion may have a generallylinear cross-sectional shape, and may be positioned below the upperportion along the vertical direction V. Rear wall 58 may further includean indoor facing surface and an opposing outdoor facing surface. Theindoor facing surface may face the interior 52 and indoor portion 12,and the outdoor facing surface may face the outdoor portion 14. As willbe described in greater detail below, a sterilization light assembly 100may be mounted proximal to bulkhead 46 or otherwise within indoorportion 12 (e.g., on a heat shield 76) to sterilize or otherwise reducemicrobes, bacteria, or viruses within air in indoor portion 12.

As shown, a head unit 68 may be attached to or included with housing 20(e.g., on or adjacent to bulkhead 46, such as on the upper portion).Specifically, the head unit 68 may be positioned at or above the indoorportion 12 as part of the housing 20. In some such embodiments, the headunit 68 is further positioned above the blower fan 42. In additional oralternative embodiments, the head unit 68 extends at least from thefirst sidewall 54 to the second sidewall 56. Generally, the head unit 68may define an exhaust outlet 94 having one or more openings throughwhich air may flow (e.g., from the indoor portion 12 to thecorresponding room). In some embodiments, head unit 68 further includesa cutoff panel 110 (e.g., extending below the exhaust outlet 94) tocutoff or separate portions of an airflow path 92 upstream from theblower fan 42 and downstream from the blower fan 42. Specifically,cutoff panel 110 may help direct air along an airflow path 92 of theindoor portion 12 and across the blower fan 42 before such beingexpelled through the exhaust outlet 94.

In some embodiments, the upper portion of the bulkhead 46 has agenerally curvilinear cross-sectional shape, and may accommodate aportion of the blower fan 42, which may be, for example, a tangentialfan. Blower fan 42 may include a blade assembly 70 and a motor 72. Theblade assembly 70 may include one or more metal blades (i.e., formedfrom a suitable metal, such as aluminum or steel, including alloysthereof) disposed about a hollow core. When assembled, the bladedisposed within a fan housing 74, may be disposed at least partiallywithin the interior 52 of the bulkhead 46, such as within the upperportion. As shown, blade assembly 70 may for example extend along thelateral direction L between the first sidewall 54 and the secondsidewall 56. The motor 72 may be connected to the blade assembly 70,such as through the housing 74 to the blades via a shaft extending alonga rotation axis. Operation of the motor 72 may rotate the blades orblade assembly 70 about the rotation axis, thus generally operating theblower fan 42 to motivate air through the indoor portion 12. Further, inexemplary embodiments, motor 72 may be disposed exterior to the bulkhead46. Accordingly, the shaft may for example extend through one of thesidewalls 54, 56 to connect the motor 72 and blade assembly 70.

According to the illustrated embodiment, blower fan 42 may operate as anevaporator fan in refrigeration loop 48 to encourage the flow of airthrough indoor heat exchanger 40. Accordingly, blower fan 42 may bepositioned downstream of indoor heat exchanger 40 along the flowdirection of indoor air and downstream of heating unit 44 along the flowdirection of outdoor air (e.g., when make-up air is being supplied toindoor portion 12). In some such embodiments, blower fan 42 is disposedbetween a separate intake segment 96 and exhaust segment 98 of theairflow path 92 for indoor air through indoor portion 12. As shown, theintake segment 96 may extend from the intake openings of the room front24 to the blower fan 42 such that the indoor heat exchanger 40 isdisposed along or within the intake segment 96. The exhaust segment 98may extend from the blower fan 42 to the exhaust outlet 94. Thus, blowerfan 42 may be downstream from the intake segment 96 of the indoorportion 12 while being upstream from the exhaust outlet 94 and exhaustsegment 98 of the indoor portion 12. Moreover, the cutoff panel 110 mayseparate or otherwise be disposed between the intake segment 96 and theexhaust segment 98.

Heating unit 44 in exemplary embodiments includes one or more heaterbanks 80 (e.g., disposed within the intake segment 96). Each heater bank80 may be operated as desired to produce heat. In some embodiments, asshown, three heater banks 80 may be used. Alternatively, however, anysuitable number of heater banks 80 may be used. Each heater bank 80 mayfurther include at least one heater coil or coil pass 82, such as inexemplary embodiments two heater coils or coil passes 82. Alternatively,other suitable heating elements may be used.

In some embodiments, a heat shield 76 is mounted within indoor portion12 to absorb, block, or reflect heat, such as the heat generated atheating unit 44. For instance, heat shield 76 may be mounted proximal toheating unit 44 or within intake segment 96. In particular, heat shield76 may be disposed between heating unit 44 and at least a portion ofbulkhead 46 (e.g., along the transverse direction T). In certainembodiments, heat shield 76 extends forward from an upper end 76A to alower end 76B. Upper end 76A may be disposed on or proximal to bulkhead46 (e.g., below blower fan 42) while lower end 76B is disposed adjacentor proximal to heating unit 44. Thus, heat shield 76 may define an anglethat is nonparallel or nonorthogonal to the vertical direction V or thetransverse direction T. Optionally, the lower end 76B or at least aportion thereof may be held or spaced apart from a lower wall or basepanwithin indoor portion 12. Thus, a gap or opening 78 may be defined(e.g., along the transverse direction T) below heat shield 76 permittingair to flow forward from a back side to a front side of heat shield 76.As shown, the gap or opening 78 may be defined at a lower height thanone or more heater banks 80. Generally, heat shield 76 may be formedfrom an suitable material to prevent or restrict the transmission ofheat from one portion or side of indoor portion 12 to another portion orside of housing 20 (e.g., aluminum or steel, including alloys thereof).

The operation of air conditioner unit 10 including compressor 34 (andthus refrigeration loop 48 generally), blower fan 42, outdoor fan 32,heating unit 44, expansion device 50, and other components ofrefrigeration loop 48 may be controlled by a processing device such as acontroller 84. Controller 84 may be in communication (via for example asuitable wired or wireless connection) to such components of the airconditioner unit 10. By way of example, the controller 84 may include amemory and one or more processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUsor the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operableto execute programming instructions or micro-control code associatedwith operation of unit 10. The memory may represent random access memorysuch as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In oneembodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored inmemory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or maybe included onboard within the processor.

Unit 10 may additionally include a control panel 86 and one or more userinputs 88, which may be included in control panel 86. The user inputs 88may be in communication with the controller 84. A user of the unit 10may interact with the user inputs 88 to operate the unit 10, and usercommands may be transmitted between the user inputs 88 and controller 84to facilitate operation of the unit 10 based on such user commands. Adisplay 90 may additionally be provided in the control panel 86, and maybe in communication with the controller 84. Display 90 may, for examplebe a touchscreen or other text-readable display screen, or alternativelymay simply be a light that can be activated and deactivated as requiredto provide an indication of, for example, an event or setting for theunit 10.

Referring especially to FIGS. 4 through 7, greater detail of unit 10 isprovided, in particular regarding sterilization light assembly 100.Generally, sterilization light assembly 100 is held or disposed withinthe indoor portion 12 (e.g., at the intake segment 96) to transmit anultraviolet light emission to air residing or flowing through indoorportion 12. To this end, sterilization light assembly 100 includes oneor more ultraviolet (UV) light sources 102 (e.g., light emitting diodesor LEDs) configured to emit radiation in the germicidal wavelength rangeof 100 to 300 nanometers. Optionally, one or more light sources 102 maybe ultraviolet C (UVC) light sources 102 configured to emit radiationbetween 200 to 280 nanometers or 245 to 265 nanometers.

In some embodiments, sterilization light assembly 100 is directedforward (e.g., at or in the general direction of indoor heat exchanger40). For instance, sterilization light assembly 100 may be directed, atleast in part, toward heating unit 44. For instance, sterilization lightassembly 100 may be directed generally upward and forward (e.g., at anonparallel and nonorthogonal angle relative to the vertical direction Vand the transverse direction T). In turn, light emissions fromsterilization light assembly 100 may generally projected or guidedupstream, such as to the heating unit 44 or the indoor heat exchanger40. At least a portion of the UV light emissions from sterilizationlight assembly 100 may thus be projected or guided toward heating unit44 or indoor heat exchanger 40. Nonetheless, heating unit 44 or indoorheat exchanger 40 may generally block or prevent UV light emissions fromescaping housing 20. For instance, heating unit 44 or indoor heatexchanger 40 may span the lateral or vertical distances covered by thethrow or field of focus of the sterilization light assembly 100. Thus,the entire projected field or area of sterilization light assembly 100may fall on one or both of heating unit 44 and indoor heat exchanger 40(e.g., one portion of the projected field may fall on heating unit 44while another or remaining portion of the projected field may fall onindoor heat exchanger 40). Optionally, indoor heat exchanger 40 mayfurther span the lateral or vertical distances of intake segment 96.During use, reflections of UV light emissions may generally be directedrearward, such as toward bulkhead 46, fan 42, or heat shield 76.Advantageously, transmission of UV light from housing 20 may be limitedwhile ensuring transmission of UV light to the indoor portion 12.

As shown, sterilization light assembly 100 may further be disposedupstream from blower fan 42 within the intake segment 96. For instance,sterilization light assembly 100 may be disposed downstream from indoorheat exchanger 40 while being upstream from blower fan 42. During use,air drawn to blower fan 42 may thus be subjected to UV light emissionsor radiation, thereby advantageously reducing or eliminating activemicrobes, bacteria, or viruses within the air. Additionally oralternatively, at least a portion of the air around blower fan 42 may besubjected to the UV light as the UV light is reflected within intakesegment 96. Notably, the metal blades of blade assembly 70 may be ableto endure exposure to UV light emissions (e.g., reflected lightemissions) without breaking down or becoming brittle.

As noted above, head unit 68 may define air exhaust outlet 94.Specifically, air exhaust outlet 94 may be defined above at least aportion of blower fan 42 along the vertical direction V or forward fromblower fan 42 along the transverse direction T. Cutoff panel 110 may,thus, extend along the transverse direction T while separating or beingdisposed between the intake segment 96 and the exhaust segment 98 alongthe vertical direction V. In some such embodiments, sterilization lightassembly 100 is disposed below exhaust outlet 94 along the verticaldirection V (e.g., at a lower relative height than exhaust outlet 94).For instance, sterilization light assembly 100 may be attached to theheat shield 76, such as by a mounting bracket 104 that holdssterilization light assembly 100 and is joined to heat shield 76 (e.g.,via a suitable mechanical fastener, adhesive, etc.).

In the illustrated embodiments, sterilization light assembly 100 isdisposed below blower fan 42. Specifically, sterilization light assembly100 may be mounted directly beneath blower fan 42. Optionally,sterilization light assembly 100 may be held rearward from a front endof blower fan 42 (i.e., rearward from the frontmost portion of blowerfan 42, such as might be disposed within intake segment 96). Moreover,heat shield 76 (and thus sterilization light assembly 100) may also bedisposed below (i.e., at a lower height) than a bottom end of blower fan42. A lower restrictor wall (e.g., formed by heating unit 44 or heaterbanks 80) may be disposed below blower fan 42 within intake segment 96and forward therefrom, while the rest of the airflow path 92 between thelower wall and cutoff panel 110 is generally unobstructed. Thus, intakesegment 96 may restrict or funnel air therealong to 30 to 40% of thefront circumference of blower fan 42. Advantageously, a significantportion of air flowing to blower fan 42 through intake segment 96 may besubjected to emissions or radiation from sterilization light assembly100 (e.g., while preventing such emissions from being visible to a userin front or above the unit 10).

As described, sterilization light assembly 100 may be disposed upstreamfrom blower fan 42. For instance, sterilization light assembly 100 maybe disposed along the airflow path 92 between heating unit 44 and blowerfan 42. Additionally or alternatively, the mounting bracket 104supporting the sterilization light assembly 100 within the indoorportion 12 may be formed from or include a metal material (e.g.,aluminum or steel, including alloys thereof). When assembled, mountingbracket 104 may have a back face opposite of the sterilization lightassembly 100 and generally facing the bulkhead 46. Notably, air drawnalong the airflow path 92 to blower fan 42 may aid in coolingsterilization light assembly 100. For instance, heat may be conductedthrough mounting bracket 104 and to the air flowing through intakesegment 96. Optionally, controller 84 may be configured to restrictactivation of sterilization light assembly 100 (e.g., to project UVemissions therefrom) unless blower fan 42 is activated (e.g., rotated todraw air along intake segment 96). Thus, activation of sterilizationlight assembly 100 may be contingent on blower fan 42 being activated todraw air thereto.

In certain embodiments, one or more UV light sources 102 ofsterilization light assembly 100 are advantageously covered or sealed(e.g., to prevent the passage of moisture thereto, which might otherwisebe significant or problematic after accumulating on indoor heatexchanger 40). For instance, a lens casing 106 (e.g., UV-transparentlens casing) may seal at least one light source 102 (e.g., and a controlboard thereof) against mounting bracket 104. Optionally, a peripheralbracket 108 may extend about a rim of the lens casing 106 to sandwichthe rim against mounting bracket 104 and, thus, hold lens casing 106 tomounting bracket 104. Although most solid materials absorb significantportions of UV light, lens casing 106 may be formed from a UV-permissivepolymer (e.g., configured to absorb less than 60% of UV emissions fromsterilization light assembly 100).

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An air conditioner unit for conditioning anindoor space, the air conditioner unit comprising: a housing defining anindoor portion and an outdoor portion, the housing further defining anexhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust airtherefrom; an outdoor heat exchanger assembly disposed in the outdoorportion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger; an indoor heatexchanger assembly disposed in the indoor portion and comprising anindoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan; a compressor in fluidcommunication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heatexchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchangerand the indoor heat exchanger; and a sterilization light assemblydisposed within the indoor portion below the indoor fan and directedforward to transmit an ultraviolet light emission within the indoorportion.
 2. The air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein thesterilization light assembly is disposed downstream from the indoor heatexchanger.
 3. The air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein the indoorfan is disposed upstream of the sterilization light assembly.
 4. The airconditioner unit of claim 1, further comprising: a heater bank disposedwithin the indoor portion downstream from the indoor heat exchanger andupstream from the sterilization light assembly.
 5. The air conditionerunit of claim 4, wherein the sterilization light assembly is disposedrearward from the heater bank along a transverse direction.
 6. The airconditioner unit of claim 4, further comprising: a bulkhead separatingthe indoor portion and the outdoor portion; and a heat shield disposedwithin the indoor portion between the heater bank and the bulkhead,wherein the sterilization light assembly is mounted on the heat shield.7. The air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein the indoor fan isdisposed along an airflow path between an intake segment of the indoorportion and an exhaust segment of the indoor portion upstream from theexhaust outlet, wherein the air conditioner unit further comprises acutoff panel separating the intake segment from the exhaust segment, andwherein the sterilization light assembly is mounted below the cutoffpanel.
 8. The air conditioner unit of claim 1, further comprising ametal mounting bracket supporting the sterilization light assemblywithin the indoor portion.
 9. The air conditioner unit of claim 8,wherein the sterilization light assembly comprises an ultraviolet C(UVC) light source configured to emit radiation between 200 to 280nanometers, and a lens casing sealing the UVC light source against themetal mounting bracket to prevent moisture from contacting the UVC lightsource.
 10. The air conditioner unit of claim 1, wherein the indoor heatexchanger is disposed forward from the sterilization light assembly toblock the ultraviolet light emission from the sterilization lightassembly.
 11. An air conditioner unit for conditioning an indoor space,the air conditioner unit comprising: a housing defining an indoorportion and an outdoor portion, the housing further defining an exhaustoutlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom; anoutdoor heat exchanger assembly disposed in the outdoor portion andcomprising an outdoor heat exchanger; an indoor heat exchanger assemblydisposed in the indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchangerand an indoor fan; a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoorheat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerantbetween the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; a heatshield disposed within the indoor portion; and a sterilization lightassembly mounted on the heat shield within the indoor portion totransmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto.
 12. The air conditionerunit of claim 11, wherein the sterilization light assembly is disposeddownstream from the indoor heat exchanger.
 13. The air conditioner unitof claim 11, wherein the indoor fan is disposed upstream of thesterilization light assembly.
 14. The air conditioner unit of claim 11,further comprising: a heater bank disposed within the indoor portiondownstream from the indoor heat exchanger and upstream from thesterilization light assembly.
 15. The air conditioner unit of claim 14,wherein the heat shield is disposed rearward from the heater bank alonga transverse direction.
 16. The air conditioner unit of claim 15,further comprising: a bulkhead separating the indoor portion and theoutdoor portion; and wherein the heat shield is disposed between theheater bank and the bulkhead along the transverse direction.
 17. The airconditioner unit of claim 11, wherein the indoor fan is disposed alongan airflow path between an intake segment of the indoor portion and anexhaust segment of the indoor portion upstream from the exhaust outlet,wherein the air conditioner unit further comprises a cutoff panelseparating the intake segment from the exhaust segment, and wherein thesterilization light assembly is mounted below the cutoff panel.
 18. Theair conditioner unit of claim 11, further comprising a metal mountingbracket supporting the sterilization light assembly within the indoorportion.
 19. The air conditioner unit of claim 18, wherein thesterilization light assembly comprises an ultraviolet C (UVC) lightsource configured to emit radiation between 200 to 280 nanometers, and alens casing sealing the UVC light source against the metal mountingbracket to prevent moisture from contacting the UVC light source. 20.The air conditioner unit of claim 11, wherein the indoor heat exchangeris disposed forward from the sterilization light assembly to block theultraviolet light emission from the sterilization light assembly.